Two Prep Basketball Stars Pick USC : Signings: Brandon Martin, Burt Harris to play for Trojans; UCLA to get Marquis Burns.

Brandon Martin, a top basketball recruit in the Southland, decided last spring to transfer from Reseda Cleveland High to Washington. Wednesday, he selected another school, announcing that he will attend USC next fall.

Martin, a 6-foot-4 senior guard who averaged 25 points a game last season, said he plans to sign a letter of intent with the Trojans today. Wednesday was the first day of the NCAA’s weeklong early signing period.

Martin will be joined at USC by 6-1 guard Burt Harris of Fairfax, who signed a letter of intent at his home Wednesday night. Harris is a returning All-City player who averaged 21 points as a junior.

UCLA also expects to sign a top local player, Marquis Burns, a 6-3 guard from Reseda who averaged 20 points last season.

Burns said he received the documents in the mail last week and will get them out in the next few days.

Both USC and UCLA expect other signings in the next week and more again in the spring signing period.

The state’s top recruit, 6-4 guard Jason Kidd of Alameda St. Joseph, signed with California during a news conference at the school Wednesday morning. Kidd, who led his team to the State Division I championship last season, was being recruited by major colleges throughout the country. He selected Cal in a surprise announcement last summer.

Martin, an honor student, said he decided to attend USC in September, choosing the Trojans over Colorado, Arizona and Oklahoma, among others.

“At USC, I didn’t have to leave to get what I wanted and that was a good education and exposure around good people,” Martin said. “I was looking for the best situation possible.”

The senior guard, who lives in South-Central Los Angeles near Washington, took a bus to Cleveland for three years. He started as a sophomore, averaging 13.6 points. Last season, he led the Cavaliers to the 4-A Division quarterfinals.

But differences between Martin and first-year Cleveland Coach Kevin Crider led to the transfer.

Washington is coming off one of its best seasons in recent years, having advanced to the 4-A semifinals.

Reggie Geary, the top player at Santa Ana Mater Dei, signed with Arizona. Geary, a 6-2 guard who averaged 13.4 points last season, also was considering UCLA, Vanderbilt and Villanova.

Arizona also signed 6-6 guard Joe McLean of Concord De La Salle. McLean is regarded as the second-best player in the Bay Area, behind Kidd.

Arizona State got highly regarded Quincy Brewer of Riverside North, a 6-4 guard who averaged 14 points last season.

Jermaine Galloway, a 6-9 forward at La Palma Kennedy, signed with DePaul.